The artwork, titled “Killed in Action,” was created by William H. Johnson in 1942. It is a work that falls under the Naïve Art (Primitivism) and Social Realism movements, and it is classified within the genre of battle painting.
In this somber and evocative piece, Johnson employs a distinctive, stylized aesthetic to depict the grim realities of war. The focal point is a scene of fallen soldiers, rendered in a simplified, almost abstract manner. The figures, with their exaggerated forms and bold outlines, lie in a chaotic aggregation, their lifeless bodies scattered across a stark, barren landscape. The background is painted with broad, sweeping strokes that suggest a desolate environment. The use of understated colors paired with dramatic lines emphasizes the tragic loss and the dehumanizing facets of conflict. The artwork poignantly captures the futility and the deep sorrow associated with wartime casualties.
